THS Mock Trial Competes at Districts

HAMILTON, Ohio — On Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 two Talawanda Mock Trial teams tried the case of State of Buckeye v. Adam Smith at the Butler County Courthouse.  Talawanda Team Sith competed against Kings Edible Arraignments and Lakota East Thunder. Sophomore Kei Brown won Outstanding Attorney and senior Amily Zhou Wang won Outstanding Witness for the prosecution while freshman Madeline Moser won Outstanding Attorney for the defense. Team Jedi competed against Ross and Kings Don’t Mock Us. Sophomore Shr Hua Moore won Outstanding Witness for the prosecution.

In order to win a bid regionals teams must win both sides of the case and the two Talawanda teams fell short ending their season early. Three out of twelve teams from Butler County won their bid to regionals: Ross, Lakota East Hawks and Lakota East Thunder.

Last year’s THS team made up of mostly seniors qualified for State Competition and ended their season in the top 10 percent of teams in Ohio.

THS teams are coached by teacher Amanda Weatherwax and by recent Miami University graduate JP Prusakowski.  “I’m really proud of the kids this year.  There’s a steep learning curve in Mock Trial and even with mostly new members we showed that we are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come,” Weatherwax said.

Mock Trial is the largest academic-based performance competition in Ohio and each year teams from over 300 schools try a case developed by the Ohio Center For Law-Related Education.  Mock Trial fosters an understanding and appreciation for the Constitution and justice system and teaches students to develop reasoned arguments and public speaking skills.  “I’m looking forward to next year’s case already.  We won’t have to start with the basics and we’ll be able to focus more on responding to what is happening in the courtroom,” Weatherwax said.